Nigel Farage says he was invited to watch Sunderland after backlash from Ipswich visit

Nigel Farage says he was invited to watch Sunderland after backlash from Ipswich visit
Nigel Farage says he was invited to watch Sunderland after backlash from Ipswich visit

UK reform leader Nigel Farage says he has been offered an invitation to attend a Sunderland home match at the Stadium of Light, and believes more football clubs should be willing to engage with him on the proposed Independent Football Regulator.

The announcement follows criticism earlier this week after Farage visited Ipswich Town’s Portman Road stadium on Monday, ahead of a rally in the city.

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During his visit he posed for photographs in the dressing room, press facilities and next to the pitch, recording a video in which he thanked the Suffolk club for the “lovely welcome” he received.

Speaking in Sunderland, where he was launching Reform UK’s local election campaign, Farage expressed his desire to attend a match at the Stadium of Light soon.

Farage says he was invited to a Sunderland match (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire)

“I hope to go to a home game there at some point before the end of the season,” he told ITV News.

“I’ve been talking to one of the directors and they would really like to see me there for a home game. If I can make it, I will.”

Reports suggest the invitation came from Sunderland manager Juan Sartori. Sunderland has been contacted for comment on the invitation.

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Farage believes other clubs should be open to discussions about the government’s plan to introduce an independent regulator for English football, a body intended to operate separately from both the government and existing football authorities.

“Football clubs should want to talk to me,” Farage said. “Do you know why? The government is about to bring in a football regulator and I think the last thing English football needs (given the huge success of the Premier League) is a state-appointed regulator.”

He added: “It’s a conversation I had in Ipswich the other day, I’ll have it in Sunderland shortly and I want to talk to all the clubs about this.”

He clarified his intentions: “It’s not about support. It’s about a football club being open to the leaders of national political parties.”

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